2018 Acura RDX Review

Name: 2018 Acura RDX Review
Brand: Acura

Price Range: $13,000 - $29,998

2018 Acura RDX Advance Package 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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$19,642 avg. price

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Acura RDX model years

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Calvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Strong acceleration and fuel economy from standard V6 engine
Elevated rear seat provides generous legroom and a commanding view
More features than competitors at a similar or much lower price
Generous cargo capacity for the segment

Cons

Technology interface can be distracting to use
High-tech safety features and adaptive cruise control don't work as well as some rival systems
Cabin lacks overtly luxurious look and feel

What's new

No changes for 2018
Part of the second RDX generation introduced for 2013

For many reasons, the Acura RDX is one of our top picks in the luxury compact SUV segment. It's a well-made and well-equipped SUV that is a clear, premium step up from mainstream compact SUVs such as the Honda CR-V. Its value is undeniable and a must-drive for buyers who value smart engineering and style equally.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale nearby

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2018 Acura RDX
Base 4dr SUV
$14,495
good price
$809 below market
- 113,798 miles
- 1 accident, 2 owners, personal use
- 6cyl automatic
- Auto Motion (23 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Chantilly, VA
2018 ACURA RDX ALL WHEEL DRIVE with powerful 3.5L SOHC V6 24V I-VTEC engine and driven only 113798 miles! FINANCING AVAILABLE** Contact Auto Motion at...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5J8TB4H39JL003199
Stock: AMN4130
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Price Drop
2018 Acura RDX
Advance Package 4dr SUV
$21,998
fair price
$670 above market
- 65,895 miles
- 2 accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 6cyl automatic
- CarMax Dulles (23 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Sterling, VA
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5J8TB4H79JL016604
Stock: 27275217
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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Chief among the RDX's virtues are space and value for your money. Although a "compact" SUV, the RDX has plenty of family-friendly space. Should you need a back seat big enough to affix a rear-facing baby seat, or a pair of growing teenagers, the RDX is better suited to the task than most other vehicles in the segment. Cargo capacity is also generous, both in terms of its on-paper measurements and real-world practicality.

From a value perspective, the RDX is one of the few compact SUVs to come with a standard V6 engine. It also has a long list of standard features, but it also remains competitive with its European counterparts even after you load it up with all the available options. In fact, a fully loaded RDX with the optional all-wheel drive is priced on par with some of the base models of many competitors.

Notably, we picked the Acura RDX as one of Edmunds' Best Used SUVs and Best Used Luxury SUVs for 2018.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

8.0 / 10

If you're ready to step up to a premium brand vehicle, the 2018 Acura RDX is a good place to start. Its powerful engine, comfortable interior, long list of standard features and handsome styling help differentiate it from the stiff competition in the compact luxury SUV class.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of a 2016 Acura RDX Advance (3.5L V6 | 6-speed automatic | AWD).

Scorecard

Overall	8.0 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.5
Interior	8.5

Driving

7.5

The RDX's smooth-revving V6 sounds great and is responsive. Equipped with the optional AWD system, the drivetrain can send up to 40 percent of its torque to the rear wheels if slip is detected from the front wheels, perfect for slippery roads and performance driving.

Acceleration

8.5

The V6 engine delivers strong acceleration for this 4,000-pound midsize SUV and is paired to a six-speed automatic that is silky smooth. A few competitors may be quicker to 60 mph, but they all carry a higher price tag.

Braking

8.0

The RDX resists brake fade and nosedive under continuous stops, and maintains a nice straight path and reassuring pedal feel. All-season tires turn a quiet cabin noisy momentarily if ABS is invoked. Its shortest stop from 60 mph is 122 feet, which is average for the class.

Steering

8.5

Having switched to electric power assist in 2014, Acura continues to improve steering control through stiffer mounts. Although road feedback is minimal, the response is excellent and precise with a nice level of effort.

Handling

8.0

The RDX is nimble by SUV standards, but long gone is the corner-carving Super-Handling AWD system in the early generation RDX. The new AWD with Intelligent Control is geared toward better fuel economy and traction maintenance in slippery conditions.

Drivability

9.0

Drivability is excellent overall. Normal mode skews toward efficiency, selecting the highest gear, which leads to occasional uphill gear ambivalence. Sport selects gears for optimum throttle response and improved performance, but fuel efficiency suffers.

Off-road

6.0

The RDX's torque transfer on-demand all-wheel drive is still primarily focused for slippery road conditions rather than true off-road environments. Also, the lack of any off-road electronic aids like hill descent control is telling.

Comfort

8.5

Acura achieves a high level of comfort in the RDX that makes it an excellent daily driver, yet provides the space and flexibility for a multitude of weekend activities. Plus, the comprehensive suite of optional AcuraWatch active safety features provides added peace of mind.

Seat comfort

8.0

Not a lot of lateral support to be had, but this RDX is less focused on throwing you into a bend than it is on everyday road comfort. The seat cushions are firm but sufficiently padded, while the optional power ventilation keeps you fresh over long stints.

Ride comfort

8.5

The RDX is equipped with a well-tuned suspension that manages to soak up bumps and impacts without delivering an overly soft and floaty ride quality. This is not an easy balance to strike from a nonactive/adjustable suspension.

Noise & vibration

8.5

A very quiet cabin with good insulation from road, wind and unwanted engine noise. Active Noise Control actually cancels out unwanted sound frequencies, while new active engine mounts (ACM) attenuate engine vibrations in a similar fashion.

Interior

8.5

The sleek-looking exterior of the RDX belies the generous space within. Highlights include an extra-wide cargo hatch opening and ample shoulder and legroom for all occupants. Also, the standard rearview camera provides three useful camera modes: normal, wide angle and a top bumper view.

Ease of use

8.5

The dual-screen infotainment system requires some time for familiarization, but it functions conveniently enough. Steering controls are clearly labeled and intuitively placed, and driver assistance systems are easily toggled on or off.

Getting in/getting out

8.0

Both front and rear doors open just shy of perpendicular for good access overall. The rear door apertures may be on the narrow side for some, with a medium-high step-in height to the seat bottom. A power liftgate is standard on all trims.

Roominess

9.5

Shoulder and legroom have been increased front to rear, with ample room for three adult passengers in the second row. A flat floor pan frees up more foot space for the middle passenger, and virtually no center seat hump means good headroom for all.

Visibility

8.5

Outward visibility through the windows and properly sized mirrors is already good, though having the optional blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert provides a state of hyperawareness. A multiview rear camera is standard.

Quality

8.5

Although Acura lacks some of the interior design flair of its competitors, build quality is spot-on. A critical improvement is the matching resolutions for the dual-screen infotainment system, a sore spot in some other models using the same layout.

Utility

At 26.1 cubic feet, it's not the largest trunk in class, but a significantly wider rear hatch opening makes loading a breeze. Redundant seatback releases for the 60/40-split bench (one trunk, one on either side of the bench shoulders) are highly convenient.

Technology

The Technology package adds a second screen, 10-speaker audio system, voice-operated navigation and climate control, and smartphone integration. While fumbling with the controls and screens can be distracting, the system is useful.

Compare 2018 Acura RDX trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Acura RDX models

The 2018 Acura RDX is a compact luxury SUV that seats five people and is powered by a standard 3.5-liter V6 (279 hp, 252 lb-ft). Although there are no trims, the RDX can be equipped with three options packages. AcuraWatch Plus adds driver assist features; Technology adds ELS audio, navigation and sport seats; and the Advance package bundles the first two together and then pads on additional luxury features such as vented seats and remote engine start. Finally, the RDX can be optioned with all-wheel drive; it comes standard with front-wheel drive.

Even without any packages, the RDX standard features list is packed. It includes 18-inch wheels, a rearview camera, automatic LED headlights, cruise control, keyless ignition and entry, a power liftgate, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated power front seats (eight-way driver, four-way passenger), premium vinyl upholstery, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming mirror, Bluetooth phone and audio, and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio, Pandora internet radio control (streams from smartphone), an auxiliary audio jack, a USB port and a media player interface.

RDX AcuraWatch Plus

The AcuraWatch Plus package adds a forward collision warning and automatic braking system, a lane departure warning and keeping system, adaptive cruise control and a color trip computer display.

RDX Technology

The Technology package adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems, a navigation system, traffic information, GPS-linked climate control, leather upholstery, an eight-way power passenger seat and a 10-speaker sound system.

RDX Advance

The Advance package includes all of the features from both AcuraWatch Plus and Technology package and adds front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, foglights, auto-dimming side mirrors, remote ignition, and ventilated front seats.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Acura RDX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.86 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$204/mo

$174/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#7 out of 18 among Luxury Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Acura RDX from 2008-2022.}

$408/yr

vs. $559/yr
for Average Luxury Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.26x/yr

vs. 1.23x/yr
for Average Luxury Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

vs. 8.6%
for Average Luxury Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Acura RDX Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.3

54 reviews

5(57%)

4(24%)

3(9%)

2(8%)

1(2%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2018 RDX TECH PACKAGE

Bill Kramer, 08/21/2018

2018 Acura RDX Technology Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

We bought the car for my wife’s daily driving and long trips. We compared the 2018 RDX with the tech package to a 2019 RDX with tech package, CRV, RAV4, and an Audi. While the 2018 doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles, i.e. Apple play. It had more than enough. The 6 cylinder normally aspirated engine with the 6 speed tranny are more than adequate. It’s quick and handles great. We …

Happy Camper

Optionier, 12/16/2017

2018 Acura RDX Advance Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

Came from a BMW X-3 that I had been driving since purchasing new in 2011. The RDX is an easier daily driver. I had been driving on run flat tires for so long I had forgotten how bad they are. The RDX is simply more comfortable over all road conditions. Test drove the 2018 X-3 and was disappointed in the BMW’s turbo 4 pot. Even though it had good acceleration it’s still displays an …

Best vehicle ever own

Tony Lee, 09/02/2018

2018 Acura RDX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

I had a 2014 CRV. It had ultra uncomfortable seats and sand paper steering wheel. It was also under power. I didn't like the 2018 CRV because of the Turbo & SVT, So I traded it for a 2018 RDX Basic AWD. I love the RDX because it had the same simple controls as my CRV. I beat myself for not buying this sooner. I couldn't careless about MPG. nor premium fuel. I test drove but didn't …

Awesome SUV that is a bit long in the tooth

jrasero, 02/28/2018

2018 Acura RDX Advance Package 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

While the RDX 2nd gen has been around since 2013 the car has aged well and received a nice mid cycle refresh in 2016. The car is basically unchanged for 2018 and with the 3rd gen 2019 RDX on its way this summer you probably can score a good deal on a current gen or get one if you refuse to adopt to a high speed transmission w/ a turbo engine. One of the best parts of the 2nd gen RDX is … the bullet proof 6 speed transmission paired to the 3.5L V6 engine, that has 279 hp and 252 lb-ft of toque, which means a healthy amount of instant power to the wheels. The car emits a healthy growl and is equipped with VCM so even with a V6 the RDX's 19/27 MPG is very respectable since a Lexus NX 200t AWD w/ a 4 cylinder turbo gets 22/28 MPG. Even though most luxury compact crossovers are oriented for utility and comfort it's sad that Acura omitted SH-AWD from the 2nd gen. The basic AWD system is fine and probably more than enough in most situations, but Acura's SH-AWD system is almost equal to Audi's Quattro system and it could have helped in acceleration since the RDX does suffer from some wheel squeal. I mostly cross shopped the RDX against the Lexus NX 200t AWD and while the Lexus just is more luxurious and offers more high end features it can costs thousands more than a RDX, it lacks the cargo/utility of an Acura, and noise wise it is louder, which is odd to say about a Lexus. The top of the line Advance trim offers some nice features as nice rims, heated & ventilated seats, remote engine start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fog lights, and front and rear parking sensors but still lacks Android/Apple compatibility, heated steering wheel, heated outboard seats, panoramic moon roof, high grain leather, thigh extenders, wireless charging, 360 cameras, plus the RDX lacks some of the materials associated with a luxury car. If these aforementioned features aren't required than I think the RDX sits in between something like a loaded Honda CR-V and a Buick Envision, Infiniti QX50, Volvo XC60. RDX's resale and reliability are top notch and compared to German cars Acura maintenance is considered normal to even cheap. Acura recommends premium fuel but regular does just fine. The trim I wouldn't recommend at minimum to get is the Tech package since it provides sports seats w/ perforated leather, 8 way front passenger seat, on demand multi use display, voice recognition for Nav and Climate, navigation, AcuraLink, Real Time Traffic, ELS audio system, Siri Eyes Free, Blind Spot Info, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor. Overall the 2018 RDX is a very good car and really its biggest issue is that feature wise it falls behind the pack, but if you don't need the latest and greatest and want something that has a luxury caché and has a V6 engine with a smooth a quiet ride there aren't really many choices besides the RDX.

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2018 RDX Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$35,800
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$204/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	26.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the RDX models:

Collision Mitigation Braking and Warning: Uses lights and sounds to warn you if the car in front of you has abruptly stopped, and can even apply the brakes to minimize damage.
Lane Keeping Assist System: Actively keeps the car in the lane with a measured amount of steering assist. It is not a self-driving system.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Helps keep a set distance to the car in front by adjusting the speed through throttle and brake application.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.4%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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